Calgary's First Thanksgiving
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Vol. 51 • No. 1 Website: www.pioneersalberta.org Email: [email protected] September 2018 Calgary’s First Thanksgiving Day hanksgiving was celebrated at different times in the fall in different parts of Canada until November 6, 1879, Twhen it became a national celebration. The day to give thanks was different every year and a newspaper notice was needed prior to the chosen date. On October 26, 1883 a notice was put in The Calgary Weekly Herald newspaper informing the public that Thursday, November 8th, 1883 had been set apart as a national thanks-giving day. The newly formed town of Calgary, with over three hundred residents, was contemplating whether to celebrate the day or not as an excerpt in The Calgary Weekly Herald, November 9, 1883 reported. “It was thought by some that Calgary, not having had any experience hitherto in celebrating Thanksgiving Day, would feel rather strange and awkward in doing the necessary justice to the occasion, but at the end of the day this view of the case was dispelled, and our thanksgiving ability fully established. In fact, so ably was the day observed, that strangers appeared to Calgary tent town east side of Elbow River, 1883 think that we had the experience of a pre-historic age, Glenbow Archives NA-1315-9 in our due observance of the occasion. The Calgary mind is proverbial for a deep spirit of reflection, and this element of character having been brought into exercise, the Calgary citizen settled himself in a contemplative attitude to take a retrospective view of the past, and to profoundly meditate upon the present, that he might have a proper appreciation and understanding of the grounds on which he was to celebrate the day. Two phases of the case presented themselves to his mind, his grievances and his blessings. His thanksgiving spirit naturally got a little sluggish as he thought of the town site still being a thing of beautiful uncertainty, of the Elbow’s foot bridge being washed away by the merciless torrent, of there being no representative in the Legislative Council, of the utterly supreme indifference shown to our crying wants by the Dominion Government, of the garden fields of the North West being swallowed up by ranche companies, of our being strangers to bountiful harvests, and of a thousand other abuses of which we are the victims. On the other hand, the spirit of thanksgiving went up in the rube as he generously thought of the bountiful harvests garnered into storehouses by his relations in the east, of the tidal wave of immigration that is prophesied to sweep over the North West, and the golden harvests that in the future are to garnered from our illimitable western fields, and of the numerous other blessings that are to be. After this dispassionate view of the case, he concluded that thanksgiving on his part was thoroughly warranted, and in the morning attended the Presbyterian Church, where a union thanksgiving service was held.“ Thanksgiving Day continued to change yearly with the holiday celebrated as late as the 6th of December and as early as the 8th of October. The most popular day to observe the holiday was the third Monday in October because the fall weather in Canada was better for outdoor activities. After 1921, Remembrance Day was celebrated in November and Thanksgiving was typically observed on second Monday in October. On January 31, 1957 it became official. Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving Day on the second Monday in October. Today with the exception of the four Atlantic Provinces, Thanksgiving is an official statutory holiday in Canada. Red Deer River District 1884 xcerpt from The Red Deer District – A Descriptive Letter by Rev. Leo Gaetz, written at Ethe request of the Calgary District Agricultural Society Red Deer River Settlement in Northwest Territories 1886 – Canada Archive PA-050804 A section of country taking its name from a river running through it is always of uncertain dimensions, but it will be sufficiently definite for the purposes of this letter to locate Annual Christmas Dinner Red Deer district between the ninth and eleventh base lines, and extending from Range 20, west of the Fourth, on as far as the Fifth Initial Meridian. Whatever more might be legitimately included I have not yet traversed, and, writing as a bonafide settler of this country to the farmers of the Dominion and the general public, I am anxious to speak from personal observation and experience and the reliable testimony of settlers who have been longer in the country. ASPECT OF THE COUNTRY The country may be described in general terms as rolling prairie, dotted over with bluffs of spruce and poplar, interspersed with lakes and meadows, and intersected with Saturday, December 01, 2018 numerous small creeks, giving the whole a particularly at the park-like appearance, which, in point of natural scenery, Memorial Building is beyond the possibility of exaggeration. I have seen the most beautiful spots of five of the eastern Provinces Cocktails: 5:30 pm Dinner: 6:30 pm and in several of the States across our southern border, Adults: $30 but I have never seen any section of country which in its natural state, could compare with this. Indeed, it is almost Children 6-12: $15 Under 6: free impossible for a stranger, looking off some commanding Open to members and guests of all ages butte, to realize that the delightful prospect all around him Tickets: Gwen Hanna at 403-279-5621 is “in condition primeval”. It would not seem difficult to persuade some Ripvanwinkle awakening suddenly among Convenors: Jeff and Maureen Hill 403-225-2397 such surroundings than the buildings and fences had been Tickets must be purchased in advance. No refunds. mysteriously removed and that those beautiful bluffs in the distant landscape were the orchards and ornamental trees Please make cheques payable among which stately residences had once nestled, and that to Southern Alberta Pioneers and mail to: those smooth symmetrical slopes were the fruitful fields of Gwen Hanna, 7048 – 22A Street SE, Calgary, T2C 0X2 a departed race of agricultural princes. The Calgary Weekly Herald, September 17, 1884 Tickets can be mailed to you or held for pickup at the door. 2 FALL 2018 SPEAKER SERIES All events take place at 7 pm at the Pioneer Memorial Building, 3625 – 4 Street SW, Calgary. Free admission. September 10, 2018 October 10, 2018 November 14, 2018 Uncovering the Stories of Southern Calgary’s Historic Union Cemetery Indigenous People During World Alberta Harry M. Sanders, Historian Wars. Fred Stenson, Acclaimed Writer Hal Eagletail, TsuuT’ina Nation A virtual tour of Calgary’s Historic Fred Stenson was born in Pincher Union Cemetery and the cast of Hal Eagletail will tell his father’s story Creek, raised near Twin Butte and characters buried there, presented of enlisting with the US army, and of currently resides in Cochrane. His by Harry M. Sanders, author of leasing their land to contribute to the historical novels, The Trade, Lightning Calgary’s Historic Union Cemetery: First World War. Eagletail is a member and The Great Karoo, simultaneously A Walking Guide. There are pillars of the Northern Dene TsuuT’ina mythologize and demythologize the of the community here like Cappy Nation located in the Treaty 7 area West. Fred Stenson writes fiction Smart, Louise Riley, William Roper of Southern Alberta. He is a cultural based on facts, most of them rooted Hull, Grant MacEwan and Thomas consultant. in Southern Alberta history. Stenson Edworthy, and there are those who will tell us how he draws the line were only passing through like Grace between fact and fiction. M. Inthout, Amelia Yeomans and Harry A. Cooper. For a Free list of - Recent sale prices House of Real Estate - Low down payment properties Proud member of the - Assumable properties Southern Alberta Pioneers - All in your neighbourhood - Native Calgarian Call - Free in-home appraisal - No pressure assistance whether Glen Godlonton you are selling or buying a home www.Godlonton.com (403) 829-9500 [email protected] 3 Historical Photo Display ur exhibit evolves every year because of the tremendous commitment, energy and involvement from our Omembership. Each year our exhibit tells a story about the impact that Southern Alberta pioneers had on the development of our province. Our organization is committed to preserving that history. Specifically, this year we featured sports andsports facilities in early Calgary and Southern Alberta. The Stampede Historical Committee featured the 50th Anniversary of the Young Canadians. We are always glad for the help from the Stampede Historical Committee. Once again we thank the amazing 83 SAPD volunteers and the 19 Stampede Historical Committee members for filling the 127 time spots for the eleven days (including Sneak-a- 2017_11 JPB.qxp_Layout 1 9/20/17 11:05 AM Page 1 Peak). Several did multiple shifts and some filled in at the last moment. The display started with our SAPD display committee PALLISTER PUBLICATIONS selecting the 2018 feature. A big thank you to Susan Priel as she spent extensive time researching the text, etc. Thanks Hank Pallister was raised on his father’s ranch, at Turner to Shelly McElroy, Kathie Pointen and Francie Hagedorn Valley, Alberta, the son of a recognized pioneer family. for your assistance. Susan’s husband, John Hails, was a He lived his early life surrounded by the old-time cowmen and a world of fascinating stories. great backup for computer entry and preparing the photos for developing. Joan Hampaul managed most of the roster 3 by filling the 127 time slots and preparing the letter that SMOKE FROM THE goes out to the volunteers with passes attached.